THE Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) again reiterated its call for a ban on public caning, following the caning of two women by the Terengganu shariah court.

Chairman Razali Ismail said the Declaration of Human Rights, Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and Convention against Torture prohibit actions that are cruel and inhumane, including punishment that destroys the honour of a person, such as public caning.

Razali said the Terengganu shariah court’s action against two women for their lesbian act aimed to harm the reputation of the women and their families.

“The commission is aware of the laws that allow caning, but the court should use its discretion in line with Islam’s principles of humanity, compassion, and integrity.

“We cannot accept that the sentence was to educate, as cultured, civilised, moderate, and progressive communities do not choose to educate people by fear and shame,” he said in a statement today.

According to Razali, there had been negative repercussions against Muslim women in the country due to certain interpretations of shariah law.

He said that despite assurances in the federal constitution, Muslim women were not able to compete with women of other religions, based on observations by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women.

“Despite international criticism, Parliament is not taking steps to make changes.

He said the government was going against its own obligation to uphold and strengthen human rights in this country. – September 5, 2018.